Pie wrapping machine



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be fully protected and Patented June 7, 1932 PATENT orrlcr.

ALBERT REMILLABD, OF WATERVILLE, MAINE PIE WRAPPING MACHINE Application filed August 29, 1930. Serial No. 478,704. I

This invention relates to a machine designed primarily for wrapping pies although it isv to be understood that it can be used for wrapping other kinds of baked articles.

5 One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine which'will operate automatically to place a sheet of wrapping paper over the article, fold the paper and seal it so that the pie or the like, when delivered, will need not be touched by the operator.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention'resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of the complete machine. a

Figure 2 is a rear elevation. Figure 3 is a side elevation, ing broken away.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the opposite side of the machine.

Figure 5 is a. top plan view.

a portion be- Figure 6 is a vertical section through-the machine taken from front to rear. Figure 7 is a section through a portion of the machine taken substantially on line 77, Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the paper transfer arm and adjacent parts.

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the suction head of the paper transfer mechanism.

Figure 10 is a plan View of the stationary lifting cam of the paper transfer mechanism. 1

Figure 11 is a side elevation showing a pie which has been wrapped by this machine.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a base on the back portion of which is erected a motor 2 which is used for driving ashaft 3 journaled in a suitable bearings 4 and 5 provided therefor.

An upstanding frame 6 is carried by the base between the bearings 4 and 5 and is provided at its upper end with a table 7 which ove hangs base 1 and extends forwardly from the frame. In the overhanging portion 8 of this table there is formed a circular opening 9 of sufficient diameter to receive a pie and a paper or metal plate on which it is supported. Arranged under the overhanging portion 8 of the table -7 is an electric heating element in the form of a ring 10 the internal diameter of which is preferably substantial- 1y equal to the diameter of the opening 9. T is heating element is adapted to be suppl ed with an electric current from any suitable source through conductors 11 leading thereto.

Formed on the inner faces of the sides of frame 6 are guides 12 slidably engaged by a crosshead 13 which carries a forwardly and upwardly extended arm 15, on which is arranged a lifting head 16. This lifting head is so proportioned as to be able to move upwardly and downwardly through the ring 10 and the openin 9. It has a. recess 17 in the top thereof forhe reception of the pan holding the pie to be wrapped. When the cross- Head 13 is in its normal or lowermost position the lifting head 16 is spaced below ring 10 as shown, for example, in Figure 6 Extending from the crosshead 13 is a stud 18 carrying a roller 19. This roller bears downwardly on the margin of a lifting cam 20 which is secured to shaft 3 so as to rotate therewith. This cam is so shaped and proportioned as to raise and lower the liftinghead 16 in properly timed relation toother parts of the mechanism.

' Pivotally mounted on the table 7 at the points 21 are levers 22 having arms which normally diverge forwardly and are engaged by an interposed spring 23 which holds them normally pressed against stops 24. The forward ends of these levers are provided with opposed arcuate sealing jaws 25 which have their inner or concave sides beveled as shown From the lower edges of these beveled faces are extended thin flanges 27. Thefree ends of the jaws are beveled as shown at 28 so that when the jaws are swun together these beveled ends will abut and ap. Furthermore, when thejaws are together they define a circle which is concentric with the axis of the opening 9 and ring 10.

A guide groove 29 is formed in the table 7 between the levers 22. A slide 30 is mounted in this groove and has a beveled arcuate end 31 constituting a sliding jaw. This jaw is normally located back from the opening 9 so as not to obstruct the movement of a pie and its container upwardly through said opening. A stem 32 rojects backwardly from the slide 30 and yond frame 6, this stem being mounted in a suitable guide- 33 provided therefor.

Formed on the back portion of the frame 6 are guides 34 engaged by a slide 35 mounted for up and down movement. Projecting from the upper end of this slide is a wedging or spreading cam 36 adapted to move between the rear ends of levers 22. On the front face of this cam is an inclined rib 37 so positioned that, when the slide 35is raised, said rib will come against the end of stem 32 and thrustthe jaw 31 forwardly. When the jaw is not held forward by this inclined cam 37 it is held retracted to its normal position by any suitable means such as a spring 3.8 engaging a pin 39 which extends downwardly from slide 30 through a short slot 40 formed in table 7.

For the purpose of operating slide 35 and its cams, an eccentric 41 is secured to and rotates with shaft 3. This eccentric is mounted within a ring 42 located at the lower end of a pitman 43. A longitudinal slot 44 is formed in the upper end of the pitman and seated therein is a wrist pin 45 extending from the upper portion of the slide 35. This mechanism provides a lost motion connection between shaft 3 and slide 35 whereby said slide will be reciprocated for the purpose of actuating the jaws 2 5 and 31 in properly timed relation to the other portions of the mechanism.

Supported at one side of base 1 at the front thereof is a tubular post 46 housing a coiled spring 47 which serves to yieldingly support a stem 48. A table 49 is mounted on the upper end of the stem and is adapted to support astack of wrapping paper out to proper size and shape. For the purpose of preventing the pa er of the stack from becoming disarrange retaining fingers 50 can be extended upwardly from the table at desired points.

A longitudinal slot 51 is formed in the post 46 and is provided in its opposed walls with an ular notches'52. A pin 53 is extended ra "ally from that portion of the stem 48 located in the post and is adapted to travel within the slot 51.

49, said spring will be compressed by the weight thereof so that the top sheet of the stack will be located at the proper level for engagement by the transfer mechanism hereinafter described. As the weight of the stack is reduced through the removal of sheets therefrom, spring 47 will gradually expand, thereby elevating the stack so as to maintain the top sheet in proper position. Pin 53, when seated in any one of the notches 52, will prevent the stack from being pushed down too far by the transfer mechanism while a sheet of paper is being engaged thereby.

Extending laterally from frame 6 are upper and lower brackets 54 and 55. To the lower bracket is secured a stationary disc 56 having a lifting cam 57. A vertical shaft 58 is concentric with disc 56 and is journaled in both brackets. This shaft is mounted to slide as well as rotate and it is provided, at its lower end, with an extension 59 on which is mounted a spring 60. This spring acts to hold the shaft normally in its lowermost position but will yield when the shaft is subjected to sufficient pressure to slide it upwardly. v

Secured to the shaft 58 is a rotatable disc 61 carrying a movable lifting cam 62. The cam 62 is normally positioned at one side or the other of the cam 57 and these cams are adapted to cooperate to lift shaft 58 against the action of spring when said shaft is rotated.

For the purpose of rotating shaft 58 a crank arm 63 is secured to and radiates from the shaft. This arm is connected by a link 64 to a rack 65 which is slidable in a guide housing 66 extending across the back portion of the machine and under shaft 3. A spring 67 is connected to'one end of the rack and exerts a constant pull thereon so as to hold shaft 58 and arm 63 normally in One extreme position as shown, for example, in Figure 5.

Secured to the shaft 3 is a segmental gear 68 which meshes with rack 65 and is so positioned and pro ortioned as to shift the rack and rotate sha t 58 in properly timed rela- 76. A small pulley 77 is secured to this shaft and is adapted to receive motion through an endless belt 78 from a large pulley 79 which is secured to and rotates with the shaft 3.

Tube 72 is provided with a valve casing 80 carried by arm 69 and in this casing there is provided a valve 81 having a radial arm 82 from which extends a pin 83. This construction is shown clearly in Figure 8. Adjacent to the pin 83 there is located a guide loop 84 into which the pin 83 extends. This loop is so shaped and located that when the suction head is brought to a position directly over the table 49 arm 82 will be shifted to open valve 81 as shown in F igure8. As the suction head swings from position above table 49 to position above the lifting head 16 the valve will be kept open but the instant the suction head reaches the limit of its movement over head 16 the valve will be closed. It will remain closed until the suction head again arrives above table 49 whereupon it will be opened as before explained. This actuation of the valve is due to the impact of in 83 against the ends of the stationary 00p 84. a

In practice a current of electricity is directed into the ring 10 so as to heat it. A stack of wrapping paper is placed on table 49. This paper is preferably paraflined or otherwise treated so that when it is heated it can be folded readily and, when it has cooled, it will retain its folded shape.

The jaws 25 and 31 will be spaced from opening 9 and the lifting head 16 and cams 36 and 37 will be in their lowermost positions. Assuming that the suction head 7 0 is located above the stack of paper, it will be apparent that when the operation of the machine is started a suction will be set up through this head which will cause the top sheet of paper to adhere to the head.

A pie in its paper or metal container has been supplied to the lifting head by any suitable means such as a conveyor, not shown. As shaft 3 rotates the rack will be thrust longitudinally by gear 68 so as to turn shaft 58 and cause cam 62 to ride over cam 52.

This will cause the suction head first to lift the engaged sheet of paper oil the stack and then to convey it to a position directly over the supported pie. At that time the suction is broken and the paper is released so as to be deposited on the e. Immediatelfy thereafter gear 68 becomes disengaged rom the rack 65 so that spring 67 will return the parts to their initial positions where they will remain and a suction be reestablished until thenext transfer of paper is to be effected. Immediately following the release of the paper and the return of the transfer arms and suction head to their initial positions the cam 20 thrusts upwardly against roller 19, causing the lifting head to push the paper covered pie upwardly through ring 10 and opening 9. Because of the close fit of the pie container as it passes through ring 10 and opening 9, the edge portions of the paper will be pressed downwardly about the pie and its container. When the top of the lifting head reaches a position flush with the top of table extension 8 it will be held stationary fora short time during which eccen tric 41 will actuate pitman 43 to thrust slide 35 upwardly and to pull it downwardly. This action will cause cam 36 to wed e between the rear ends of levers 22 while, at the same time, cam 37 will thrust against slide 30 and force jaw 31 longitudinally. The two jaws 25 and 31 will come against the paper covered sides of the pie container and force the edge portions of the paper under the container. After the paper has been softened by contact with ring 10 while passing upwardly therethrough, it will be compactly crimped or folded under the pie container as shown in Figure 11, the flanges at the lower ends of the jaws acting to wedge beneath the container during this operation. The jaws are quickly withdrawn from engagement with the wrapped container as soon as the slide 35 moves downwardly and immediately thereafter the wrapped pie and its container can be removed from the extension 8 by any suitable mechanism provided for that purpose or by hand.

Following the foregoing operation the lifting head will move downwardly into position to receive another pie and its container whereupon the operation already described will be repeated.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrapping machine including a. heating element, reciprocating means for elevating therethrou h an article to be wrapped, means for supp ying a sheet of wrapping material to said article for upward movement therewith through the heating element, and

means for engaging the wrapping material after leaving the heating element and when the article reaches the upper limit of its movement for crimping the wrapping material about said article.

2. In a wrapping machine a heating element, an element for supporting an object to be wrapped, means for applying a sheet of wrapping material on said article, and means for actuating one of said elements vertically past the other for bending the wrapping material about the supported article and'heating it.

3. In a wrapping machine a heating element, an element for supporting an object to be wrapped, means for applying a sheet of wrapping material on said article, means to be wrapped, means for applyinga sheet of wrapping material on said article, means for moving the article supporting element vertically past the heating element for bendment, an element for supporting an object I ing the wrapping material downwardly about the supported article and heating it, and relwardly bent and heated portion of the wrapping material under said article.

5. In a wrappin machine a heating element, an element or supporting an object to be wrapped, means for applying a sheet of wrapping material on said article, means for moving the article supporting element vertically past the heating element for bending the wrapping material downwardly about the supported article and heating it, separate jaws, and means for simultaneously moving the jaws together to encircle the supported article when above the level of the heater to crimp the downwardly bent and heated portion of the wrapping material under said article.

6. In a wrapping machine a heating ele ment, an element for supporting an object to be wrapped, means for applying a sheet of wrapping material on said article, means for moving the article supporting element vertically past the heating element for bending the wrapping material downwardly about the supported article and heating it, separate jaws for receiving the supported article and the wrapping material between them subsequent to the heating operation, and means for actuating the jaws to completely encircle the supported article when above the level of the heater to crim the downwardly bent and heated portion 0 the heated wrapping material beneath said article.

7. In a wrapping machine a heating element, an element for supporting an object to be wrapped, means for applying a sheet of wrapping material on said article, means for moving the article supporting element vertically past the heating element for bending the wrapping material downwardly about the supported article and heating it, normally spaced actuated jaws for receiving therebetween the supported article and its heated wrapping material, and means for shifting the jaws toward each other when above the level of the heater to engage the downwardly bent and heated portion of said material and crimp it beneath the supported article.

8. In a wrapping machine a heating element, an element for supporting an object to be wrapped, means for applying a sheet of wrapping material on said article, means for moving the article supporting element vertically past the heating element for bending the wrapping material downwardly about the supported article and heating it, normally spaced actuated jaws, a slidable jaw therebetween, means for simultaneously shifting the jaws toward the supported article when above the level of the heater to crimp the downwardly bent and heated portion of wrapping material beneath said article.

9. In a wrapping machine a heating element, an element for supporting an object to be wrapped, means for applying a sheet of wrapping material on said article, means for moving the articlesupporting element vertically past the heating element for bending the wrapping material downwardly about the supported article and heating it, normally spaced pivotedjaws, a slidable jaw therebetween, a slide, means for .actuating the same upwardly through the plane of movement of the slide and jaws, and separate means on the slide for actuating the pivoted and slidable jaws respectively to shift them toward the supported article and its heated wrapping material to crimp said material under the article. j

10. A wrapping machine including a heating element, means for supporting an article to be wrapped, means for supporting sheet wrapping material, a suction head for transferring a sheet of wrapping'material from the supporting means to a point above and for depositing it on to the supported article, and means for actuating the article supporting means to shift said article and the wrapping material upwardly thereon through the heating element-to bend the heated material downwardly at its margin.

11. In a wrapping machine the combination witha table having an opening therein and a heating element adjacent to the opening, of means for supporting an article to be wrapped, means for automatically applying a sheet of wrapping material on to the supported article, and means for shifting-the article supporting means upwardly to move said article and the wrapping material thereon past the heating element and through the table, thereby to bend the margin of the heated material downwardly.

12. A wrapping machine including a structure having an opening therein, means for supporting an article to be wrapped, means for supporting sheet wrapping material, a suction head, means for automatically,moving said head from above the material sup porting means to a point above the article supporting means, and means controlled by the movement of the suction head for establishing and breaking suction through said head to pick up a sheet of material, convey it to a point above the article supporting means, 2

and release the sheet material for deposit on a supported article, and mechanism for shifting the article supporting means to direct said article and the engaged wrapping material through the apertured structure.

13. In a wrapping machine the combination with an apertured structure, means for supporting an article to be wrapped, means for supporting sheet wrapping material, a

shaft slidably and rotatablymounted, co-

operating fixed and movable cams for raising the shaft during its rotation. a suction hea supported by and movable with the shaft for contact with the supported sheet. material,

means for momentarily rotating the shaft to lift the suction head and bring it to position above the article supporting means, means for automatically returning the suction head to its normal position, means controlled by the movement of the suction head for maintaining a suction during its movement in one direction and for preventing suction during its return movement thereby to convey a sheet of Wrapping material to position above the article supporting means and deliver it on to a supported article, and means for actuating the article supporting means subsequent to the release of the transferred sheet material to move the supported article and the sheet material through the apertured structure to fold said material about said article.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my slgnature. ALBERT REMILLARD. 

